On the Cultivation of Hedges in the U. States. 43 



the greatest durability, which will add much to the value of their 

 lands. In some parts of the Western states, where fencing ma- 

 terials are scarce, their place may be well supplied by reari»^g 

 live hedges from the seeds of the wild thorns abundant the /e. 

 Nothing could be more appropriate or beautiful on those smooth 

 and widely extended prairies, which nature has made to resemble 

 vast lawns and parks, and which should be disfigured by unsightly 

 fences as little as possible. 



In some situations, as in the division of meadow or tillage 

 ground of extensive farms, a material is wanted for hedges which 

 shall grow rapidly, without much preparation of the soil, and 

 which, not being intended as a defence against the smaller ani- 

 mals, but merely cattle, need not be kept so thickly furnished 

 with branches near the ground. The best plant with which we 

 are acquainted, for such Iwdges, is the three-thorned acacia, (Gle- 

 ditsch/a triacanthos.) The foliage is beautiful, the growth ex- 

 ceedingly rapid, and, when kept well trimmed, it forms a very 

 stout and hardy hedge. It is easily reared from seed, and grows 

 well in almost any soil. 



The buckthorn (/ihamnus catharticus) is found to succeed 

 well in some parts of the Union, and the Osage orange (Madu- 

 ra aurantiaca,) a beautiful tree from Arkansas, will, south of the 

 latitude of Boston, form a very handsome and efficient hedge. It 

 is well armed with sharp thorns, and the foliage has all the beau- 

 ty and glossiness of the orange. 



For evergreen hedges, the red or Virginia cedar, if kept low 

 and vi^ell trimmed, is extremely well adapted. The arhorvitcs 

 will also form a very handsome hedge or screen. The Euro- 

 pean holly, with its superb dark green foliage, and bright coral 

 berries, in winter, which probably forms the most beautiful ever- 

 green garden hedge in the world, unfortunately for us will not en- 

 dure the rigors of our winters north of Philadelphia. 



It is commonly believed that a great length of time is necessa- 

 ry for the growth of a good hedge. With the ground badly pre- 

 pared, and a plant like the English thorn, unsuited to the climate, 

 this is undoubtedly true. But if the soil is in good order previ- 

 ous to planting plants of American thorns, selected and well cul- 

 tivated, handsome hedges may be produced in four to six years. 

 When fully grown, they are indisputably the finest enclosures for 

 the country in the world. The wall of masonry, the iron paling, 

 or the wooden fence, may be well suited to the vicinity of houses 

 or crowded towns; but for harmony of color, freshness of foliage, 

 durability, and, in short, all that is most desirable for beauty and 

 protection, the verdant hedge is without an equal. In the spring 

 the air is sweet with the perfume of its blossoms; in summer the 

 eye rests with pleasure on its deep green foliage; and in autumn 

 its blushing berries and gaily tinted leaves adorn the landscape. 



